> I'm cool with what actually causes a snake to be hypo -
> genetically I mean, I just get confused when I see these dark
> brown snakes listed as hypos...

I think there are degrees of hypo - and a snake that is genetically light brown might be lighter than a hypo of a snake that is suppose to be virtually black.

I define (my definition, not biological) hypo as a lighter color caused be a mechanism not working the way it is suppose to be, a genetic defect. I suppose technically every mutation that ever happens is technically a defect and some are beneficial and thus chosen by natural selection, but if it is the norm for a population than it is "no longer" a defect.

> I very much agree with you on the 'proof' being that if they're
> truly hypo they'd be born considerably lighter.
> Of course that being said the only way to prove a W/C Cal is
> hypo would be to prove it out, correct??

Yeah. I have a possible hypo female. The person I bought it from is in Alaska, and he got it from someone else. She looks hypo to me, and does sometimes have a lavender tinge to her. I can't call her hypo though in my mind until I can demonstrate it is genetic trait. I suppose hypo doesn't necessarily need to be simple recessive - but if it is, it would take at least two generations - first generation with a normal to produce all normal young, and second generation line breed should produce mostly normal some lighter.

She also has really weird banding, and a virtually completely cream belly - unusual for a banded.

> I guess I was sort of hoping for a trick that shows a snake is a
> visual hypo...

> Thanks for the info man.

In my case opinion, not really info. Keep in mind I sometimes come off sounding like I know more than I really do, and I don't have a lot of experience in this area.

I'm guessing that we need to sequence the Cal King genome before we really know what is going on in some cases.
-----
3.6 L. getula californiae - 18 eggs (Cal. King)
1.1 L. getula nigrita (MBK)
1.0 Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
3.3 Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

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